BBC had two million fewer viewers in its general election coverage compared to 2019, and some viewers think they know why.
The number drop means that the corporation had a third fewer viewers tuning in to see their specialised programming that followed the political events unfolding.
BBC was still the most-watched channel with 4.2 million viewers tuning in between 10pm and 11pm on July 4, but their drop was sizable when compared to 6.1 million in the last general election.
The Labour win was watched by a combined 7.3 million viewers across all channels, which was three million less than 2019 showing that the decline could also be down to a larger change in audience habits.
Five years ago, it was Huw Edwards at the helm, but last week, it was Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie sharing the responsibility.
Not everyone loved the choice of presenters with some people deciphering that the drop in viewing figures could possibly be down to that.
‘I like both Clive Myrie and Laura K but their election night gig was not great. It started off talking about nothing and then it missed half the results,’ wrote David Todd on X.
Bob Mitchell also had thoughts on their presenter choice: ‘I was one of those viewers who switched the BBC election coverage off & it was definitely not because of Clive Myrie.
‘The BBC are seriously going to have to look at replacing Kuenssberg, her political allegiance is blatantly obvious & what she said to Ed Davey was unacceptable.’
On her Sunday politics show Kuennsberg, 47, introduced the Liberal Democrats leader by saying: ‘Ed Davey, congratulations, I suppose, on your more than 70 seats.’
Many people who caught the interview were unhappy with her use of the words ‘I suppose’, including Carol Vorderman, who suggested BBC journalist Victoria Derbyshire should replace her.
‘Time for #bbclaurak to become #bbcVictoriaD don’t you think? @vicderbyshire Quite extraordinary,’ Vorderman posted on X.
‘Vic D is exceptional and gives them all a hard time if that is what’s needed. She knows her detail and cuts through with any bias. BBC is lucky to have her.’
‘Even with Channel 4’s inexplicable panel choice -Nadine Dorries, cough – it was infinitely better than listening to Kuenssberg. Even Clive Myrie didn’t cut the toxicity if her sycophantic coverage,’ added Lesley Smith on general election night.
‘@BBCNews you finally have a good reason to fire her for cause. Unbalanced coverage.’
‘Watching a bit of the election coverage. Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie are poles apart. Could listen to Clive all night but Kuenssberg speaks to everyone with contempt,’ Chris Curtis concluded.
‘I would have stuck with the Beeb if it had been just Clive. But I am struggling to bear Laura these days. Sorry, but she just comes across as biased – putting the knife in to non-Cons, especially labour. She even made a barbed comment to lovely Ed Davey after their huge success,’ said Sue Priest. While Matt Page hopes that the ratings send BBC a ‘clear message’.
Before, the show even came onto air some people shared their intention to boycott the coverage as they felt Kuenssberg wasn’t ‘impartial’.
The BBC coverage continued through the night and through to the next day, as votes continued to be counted and the results were confirmed. The broadcaster averaged at 2.9 million (a 37% share), with 11.9 million tuning in for at least 3 minutes up to 2am. Their statistics also found that 80% of UK adults went to BBC for the election results.
ITV1 was its next closest competitor with 836,000 turning in (10.7%). Tom Bradby – who previously anchored election nights in 2015, 2017 and 2019 – once again lead ITV’s evening and early morning coverage. ITV lost 1million viewers for the 10pm hour for exit poll results from their 2.3million in 2019.
Following them was Channel 4 (664,000, 8.5%), which went down a different route with its coverage, and was able to double its ratings and experience a peak of 1.1 million.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis hosted Britain Decides with The Rest is Politics and Gogglebox as part of the alternative coverage. Podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart provided commentary throughout, while our favourite sofa critics also jumped in with their immediate reactions. Guests including former Tory MP Nadine Dorries and Vorderman also popped in during the episode.
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Making up other chunks of the audience were Sky News (372,000, 4.8%), BBC News (231,000, 2.9%), and GB News (86,000, 1.1%).